DPP lodges appeal against Cathal Crotty sentence

The Director of Public Prosecutions has lodged an appeal against the three-year suspended sentence imposed on soldier Cathal Crotty last month for beating a woman unconscious in a random attack.

The appeal, on the basis that the sentence was unduly lenient, was lodged on Friday.

Crotty, 22, from Park Row Heights, Ardnacrusha in Co Clare, was given the wholly suspended sentence on 19 June for attacking 24-year-old Natasha O’Brien on O’Connell Street in Limerick.

Ms O’Brien said afterwards that she had not received justice.

The sentence led to protests nationwide and Ms O’Brien received a standing ovation in the Dáil.

The appeal will be heard in the Court of Appeal. It could take up to a year for it to come before the court unless an application is made to have it heard sooner.

Crotty had initially tried to blame Ms O’Brien for instigating the attack on 29 May 2022.

He admitted his guilt after being shown CCTV footage and pleaded guilty at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court.

After the attack, Crotty boasted to friends on Snapchat “Two to put her down, two to put her out,” – a reference to hitting Ms O’Brien four times.

The court heard he lashed out at Ms O’Brien who was not known to him, after she and a friend had asked him not to shout homophobic abuse at other people on the street.

The court heard he grabbed her by the hair and punched her to the ground until she lost consciousness.

Ms O’Brien said she thought he was going to kill her until a male passerby intervened and Crotty fled.

Judge Tom O’Donnell, who is now retired, said Crotty’s actions on the night were “utterly appalling”.

However, he said Crotty had to be given credit for pleading guilty and his army career would be over if he was given a custodial sentence.

He suspended the entire three-year sentence and ordered Crotty to pay €3,000 in compensation to Ms O’Brien.